Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and graduated from the Leningrad State University law school in 1975 (he also holds a doctorate in economics).Made a carreer at the KGB, was named head of the FSB (successor of KGB) by Boris Yeltsin in July 1998.

After Yeltsin resigned on the last day of 1999, Putin became acting president. In the elections of March, 2000, Putin bested ten other candidates to become Russia's president.

At the 2004 elections at the 14th of March, Putin got re-elected for a second term, winning more than 70% of the votes.